Old vs. New - McHenry: Residents reflect on past and present
By CRYSTAL LINDELL – clindell@nwherald.com
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| Evelyn Albright, 89, moved to McHenry when she was two-years-old. She and her husband Ray, 91, bought a house on Crescent Ave. in 1945 and have lived there together since. (Travis Haughton - thaughton@nwherald.com) |
McHENRY – When Evelyn Albright was born in McHenry, only 2,200 people lived in the town.
She and her husband, Ray, bought their house for $8,000. And when they needed to buy something on credit from a local business, all they had to do was seal the deal with a handshake.
Eighty-nine years later, the days of handshake deals are over. The couple’s home is worth more than 10 times as much, and the population has grown to about 25,000.
Evelyn Albright said the changes don’t bother her.
“We went right along with [the growth],” she said. “It just kind of felt natural. ... I think it’s at a good point right now.”
By contrast, Wanda Smalec and her husband, Tony, both 57, moved into McHenry about a year ago and haven’t had time to witness much in the way of changes. Compared to their former town – Hanover Park – McHenry is a town on the cusp of growth.
“It’s slow, but you know what? That’s OK,” Wanda Smalec said. “McHenry will build up pretty fast within the next few years. ... You’ll have more people moving out here.”
The Smalecs live in a new subdivision, while the Albrights own an old home near McHenry East High School. Both couples love the city.
Wanda Smalec said she specifically likes the hometown feel.
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| Tony and Wanda Smalec moved into a new subdivision on McHenry's south side in 2007 with their one-year-old Yorkie, Julie. (Travis Haughton - thaughton@nwherald.com) |
“McHenry is ... a community where people like to get to know each other,” she said. “I love the people. I love the openness. I love fishing.”
Evelyn Albright said she’s glad she built her life in the community.
“I like McHenry,” she said. “I’m a McHenry girl.”
One of her favorite changes to the town has been the retail growth.
“Shopping is altogether different,” she said. “We used to always go out of town ... but we’ve got everything here that we need.”
Wanda Smalec said she likes the retail offerings, but she hopes it doesn’t have a negative impact on the downtowns.
“I like old things,” she said. “It gives it prestige.”
Evelyn Albright’s father, Pete Schaefer, used to own one of those downtown businesses, Schaefer’s Grocery and Market, but it closed in the 1980s. She understands that it couldn’t last though, she said.
“You couldn’t keep up with the big chains anymore,” she said.
Aside from the shopping, one of the city’s most identifiable features, the Fox River, also has changed over the years. Evelyn Albright said she and her family used to be able ice skate on it before the dam was built.
And a lot more people used to swim in it.
“I’d come home from work and we’d go down to the river for a swim,” Ray Albright said.
The pair said they’re happy they raised their three children in the town, and many of their grandchildren still live in the area.
“It’s a nice place to raise a family,” Evelyn Albright said.
She said she looks back on the earlier days of both the city and her family with a smile.
“It was a small town. It was nice,” Evelyn said. “You used to know everybody. Years ago, things were really different. ... I’ve had a good life.”
Wanda Smalec, who’s children visit her in McHenry, said she’s excited about the city’s future.
“It’s a community you want to be in and join,” she said. “I love it out here.”
